Pioneer releases first Apple CarPlay devices

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We’ve known about Apple’s in-car plans for months now – but today marks the first day when the products that support “CarPlay” are finally available.

Pioneer has released a firmware upgrade to its existing line of in-car systems that adds CarPlay functionality. If you’ve got a AVIC-F60DAB, AVIC-F960DAB, AVIC-F960BT, AVIC-F860BT or AVH-X8600BT, or pick up the new SPH-DA120, then you’re in luck: Once you’ve updated you’ll be able to plug-in your iPhone and get the app experience from your dashboard.

In a nutshell, CarPlay extends the iOS experience: Whilst you can’t access all of your apps from dashboard, you can get your Maps, Siri and Music. Crucially, Apple also makes it possible for third party apps to appear on the dash: Spotify and Google Maps will soon be supported, mercifully. Just don’t expect to be playing FIFA whilst driving any time soon.

Pioneer’s new hardware addition is clearly built with CarPlay in mind: the SPH-DA120 boasts a 6.2″ WVGA touchscreen, to make navigating even easier.

To update, all you have to do is download the update from the Pioneer website, whack it on a USB stick and plug it into your Pioneer system to update.

Cars that come with CarPlay built in by default are expected to be rolling off of production lines later this year.